• Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs Ministry Secy. Somaratne Vidanapathirana expounds need for attitudinal changes, improving awareness, compassion, tolerance concerning religions 

The process of alleviating religious tensions in the country and creating a climate where people of diverse religious beliefs could co-exist has two main components. While the necessary legal, regulatory, and policy decisions are being taken in a manner that suits Sri Lanka’s social, economic, and religious contexts, it is equally crucial to strive for attitudinal changes, including improving compassion and tolerance and raising awareness. Therefore, in addition to the relevant authorities and the Government, the people and religious leaders have a great responsibility which is yet to receive adequate attention.

Emphasising this during an interview with The Daily Morning, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Somaratne Vidanapathirana shed some light on the Ministry’s stance on and involvement in addressing several religious matters of national importance. He noted that while providing immediate solutions to them, the Ministry focuses on long-term measures with the Government and religious leaders.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

What are the main functions of the Ministry and what are the institutions that operate under it? 

The main functions of the Ministry include nurturing and protecting Buddhism and also providing the necessary facilities for the affairs of other religions, including for religious places of those religions. In addition, it is overall tasked with maintaining religious harmony in the country.

There are 22 departments and other forms of institutions under the Ministry, such as the Department of Buddhist Affairs, the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Department of Christian Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation, the Department of Archaeology, the Department of National Archives, the Department of National Museums, the Nelum Pokuna Theatre Foundation, and the Ranminithenna Tele Cinema Village.

Following the controversial religion-related statements made by certain figures including Pastor Jerome Fernando and stand-up comedienne Nathasha Edirisooriya, a discussion about religious harmony has sparked in the country. There were also discussions about taking long-term measures, including legal reforms, based on those incidents. Has the Ministry paid attention to these concerns?

Legal actions are underway regarding the complaints made in this regard, with a focus on the distortion of Buddhism and with the involvement of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General and also the three Directors for the other religions, namely, the Directors of the Departments of Muslim, Hindu and Christian Affairs, have, in writing, conveyed to me that the said statements were hurtful. I cannot discuss this at length because there are ongoing court proceedings regarding this matter.

Concerns regarding each religion should be addressed in the context of those religions. We have initiated legal actions with regard to the discipline-related concerns among the Buddhist society, and as per the advice of the Mahanayakas (Chief Prelates of the three sects), we have drafted a Bill for legal reforms. This will be the law that addresses Buddhist monks’ discipline-related matters under the Department of Buddhist Affairs. This is currently at the discussion level. In addition, with regard to the three other main religions, we believe that a system of rules, which is in line with the teachings of those respective religions, should be introduced. For this purpose, we have already referred three draft Bills for the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers in order to refer them to the Legal Draftsman’s Department.

There is a request from religious leaders, mainly from Buddhist monks, for some kind of relief programme to alleviate the difficulties faced by religious places due to increased electricity expenses. This has attracted different responses including opposition against the provision of such special relief. Is the Ministry engaged in any kind of programme in this regard?

The people have a right to express their opinions. But, in accordance with the Government’s social responsibility to nurture Buddhism and support other religions, the Government is looking into providing solar panels for all religious places. For this purpose, we are to receive a grant of $ 1.5 million as part of the Indian Government’s assistance programmes. We have concluded the pertinent discussions, and the two countries have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding for this project. The agreement is at the Attorney General’s Department. Once the necessary permissions are given, we will sign the agreement. Based on the assistance that we receive we will provide solar panels for all religious places within the next two years.

At present, as per our records, there is a total of 27,310 religious places in the country. This includes both registered and unregistered religious places. Among them are 13,855 Buddhist temples, 7,666 Hindu kovils, 2,455 mosques, and 2,106 Christian churches. In addition, there are around 2,000 religious places that remain unregistered under various circumstances. The Indian Government’s assistance has been sought to provide solar panel-generated electricity for all these places.

It has been reported that the Ministry has paid attention to declaring a minimum age requirement to ordain minors as Buddhist monks. This is against a background where a number of cases of abuse of young Buddhist monks have been reported in Buddhist temples. What is your opinion about this and what are the steps being taken by the Ministry in this regard?

There are cases of abuse both among monks and in the general society, and it is undeniable. We are taking the necessary legal actions regarding such cases. Even the Mahanayakas stated – and we also believe – that all persons, including Buddhist monks and religious leaders of other religions, should adhere to the country’s general law. These cases of abuse of young Buddhist monks receive more publicity via social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. The Police Women and Children’s Bureau is taking legal action as per the law, and we are holding discussions with the Mahanayakas regarding these matters.

We cannot impose laws concerning ordaining Buddhist monks. In Buddha’s time, children were ordained as Buddhist monks without obtaining their parents’ permission. However, after the Buddha was requested to change that situation, a rule was imposed requiring the parents’ permission in order to ordain a child as a Buddhist monk. There is no proper set of guidelines in this regard. With the prevailing economic issues, certain parents hand over their children to temples. Buddhist monks try to educate them while supporting them. Therefore, the Government cannot impose laws restricting the ordaining of underage children as Buddhist monks. We have to take into account their socioeconomic situation as well, and also ensure that young Buddhist monks have the necessary care and protection that they need. More importantly, we have to look into whether these young Buddhist monks are being abused or are being looked after properly.

These are merely a few incidents. However, despite that, attempts are being made to portray them as an issue pertaining to the entire society. We are taking the necessary disciplinary and legal actions regarding them. It is the Mahanayakas of the relevant Sects that have the power to take disciplinary actions. Legal actions are being taken according to the general law, through the court system.

Recently, a somewhat controversial discussion on Buddhist religious places and lands of archaeological value in the North and East emerged, and many find it concerning. Has the Ministry’s attention been drawn to that matter?

We strive to protect places of archaeological value in the entire country, not only in the North and the East. There are such places throughout the country. We don’t have to go to the North and the East; there are many such places even in Colombo. We must protect them, and it is the Government’s problem. Regardless of where such places are located, the Department of Archaeology does what is necessary to protect them. The incident you are referring to is one incident. We are sensitive to religious matters to the extent that we link archaeological places with religious ideologies. Sinhala-Buddhists have a spiritual bond with Buddhist religious places, and people of other religions too have similar feelings. But, we believe that archaeological monuments are the heritage of all Sri Lankans. There would be no issue if people of all religious backgrounds understood this. Religious value lies in our minds. Issues arise when we try to assign those values to archaeological places. But, if we talk about protecting places of archaeological value with the right understanding, there would be no issue.